Splitting Hairs

Nine

Julian was withdrawn the whole burial service. The old patriarch of Sunicos is now gone. Cremated.

Gusto kong lapitan si Julian. Yakapin. I-comfort. But he was cold, colder than before. After the third day, we went back to the Philippines.

With Tricia.

Yeye's passing was sad for me, too. Kahit saglit ko lang siyang nakilala. He seemed to love Julian so much.

I couldn't help being left out. At isa pa, nasasaktan din ako. Natatakot akong baka hindi ko matupad ang promise ko kay Yeye. Syempre, naniniwala akong bumabalik ang mga kaluluwa kung may unfinished business. Eh, pano kung balikan ako ni Yeye?

We were out of the embassy when we saw Julian's father. At una nitong sinalubong si Uncle Jin na sumabay sa amin pauwi to oversee some of Sunico's businesses in the Philippines.

"Jin, why didn't you tell me?" He gritted his teeth. Parang gusto kong maawa dito.

"It's over."

"What is over Jin? You tell me! You know it would never be over unless..." Galit na sigaw nito at tumingin kay Julian. I was kinda confused. Julian's father was red about the face. Pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao sa paligid. Nakita ko ang biglang pamumutla ni Uncle Jin.

"Will you get out of here? You're not a Sunico!" Julian hissed silently. Tahimik lang siya these past few days. What if... what if Julian turned to his father in anger? Oh, no. Alam ko kung pano magalit ang leon.

I learned that the Sunico name was originally not his Lolo's. It was his Lola's surname na kinuha ng lolo niya when he moved to Korea.

Nang pumunta ang old patriarch sa Pilipinas to extend the business and successfully expanded, he tried to learn language. Julian's father learned the language and got married here.

"Julian!" Celine said authoritatively. Aunt Risan looked worried. What the hell—

Ang hirap pumagitna sa mga nag-uumpugang bato.

"You didn't even call me, Risan? Me? Your own brother when dad died? I have every right!" Galit na nagwawala na ngayon ang daddy ni Julian. Uncle Jin tried to pacify him.

Before we knew it. It was too swift. Too fast. Julian moved forward. Para kaming nasa slow motion scene habang nakita namin kung pano tumaas ang kamao ni Julian sa mukha ni Mr. Sunico. I took a step back in horror. Para akong naestatwa. Then there were papparazzis. Where the hell had they come from?

Tricia hugged him from behind. She was crying now.

Ako? I felt alien. Like I was an altogether different person. Hindi ko siya ma-take. Hindi.

"This is all your fault! You ruined mom's life! My life! And gave me the responsibility I never wanted in the first place. Where's your sense of honor, dad? Sana hindi na lang kita naging tatay!" Julian was making guttural sounds. Painful.

"Julian please... stop it. Don't cause any more scandal than we have now..." Even Celine was crying.

Dumating ang mga bodyguards ni Uncle Jin. There was more to this... than... I couldn't put a finger on.

Iyak ng iyak si Tantan ng magising. Tricia was with Julian the whole time. She understood him about his family. Anong panama ko kay Tricia? She knew a lot. Everything. Ako?... wala.

When I turned eighteen, I felt exhilarated. Why? Kasi feeling ko malaya na 'ko mula sa manipulasyon ng parents ko. Independent. Wala ng curfew. Wala ng dialogue na 'bata ka pa'. At lalong hindi ko na kailangang magsinungaling na may project para lang payagang gumala, sumama sa mga group dates hanggang madaling araw at uminom. Legal. Pwede ng makulong.